Robert McElvaine's Cuba Arts and Culture Tour from December 29, 2012 to January 5, 2013
For costs and more details on this tour, please contact:

Robert S. McElvaine
Professor of Arts and Letters
Millsaps College
1701 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39210
601-974-1291 Office
601-924-1598 Home

Click here to email Robert.
Cuban school kids by Henk van der Leeden.
Cuban students in Havana say, "Welcome. Come down and meet us!" Photo Henk van der Leeden.
Robert McElvaine’s Cuba Arts and Culture Tour
GETTING TO KNOW ISLAND PEOPLE AND SOCIETY
Saturday 9 to Saturday 16 March 2013
Che Guevara sculpture in the Plaza de la Revolución.
THE CUBAN PEOPLE warmly welcome you to join them in March to witness their nation of unmatched creativity in arts, culture, education and social relations.

THIS TOUR IS for people keen on learning about Cuba's stellar achievements in free universal life-long education, its society, culture, natural history and ecology.

JOIN US ON this special introduction and overview tour. Services are comprehensive and costs nearly all-inclusive. Island travel, so long forbidden, is experience of a lifetime and fount of unforgettable memories.
R E G I S T E R  Click
F L I G H T S  Click
L I C E N S I N G  Click
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Your activities in Cuba video.
Your activities in Cuba video.
WATCH six minutes in Cuba!

COMMON CUBA QUESTIONS
Is Cuban food good? Yum. It is organic and tasty, but not spicy. If you like hot, bring Tabasco sauce.
Am I free to ask all questions? You'll insult your island hosts by being less than candid.
Is the water safe to drink? Yes, but we suggest bottled water.
Are vaccinations needed? No.
Can Americans visit Cuba legally? Yes. They should do so now while the island is pristine and before it is overrun. There is no charge for travel licenses.
Can I stay in Cuba after the tour? Absolutely! We encourage this and gladly assist for free.
How much money should I take? We suggest $75 to 125 per day.
Do Cubans like tips? Of course! See our gratuities guidelines.


Rooftops in Old Havana.
Rooftops in Old Havana near your hotel.

Best Cuban food.
We feature the best of island food.

Banana blossom -- spectacular! Bananas grow "up-side-down." Bananas grow upside-down. Spaniards brought them to Cuba in 1516. Click to enlarge.


Clime and time in Havana now



Click here for weekly forecast

Accomplishments of the Cuban education system.
Click logo for more info.
Cuba Tour Overview :: An elaborate day-by-day itinerary is below
Eight days and seven nights of learning, fun and friendship in Cuba. Want to stay longer? We assist! Euphonium musician in Havana
Euphonium player. Click to enlarge.
Seven nights in the elegant four-star Hotel Habana Libre in the Vedado neighborhood – Havana's cultural hub.
Tour elegant art galleries and museums, mingle with Cuban artists, visit rural Cuba and meet farm families, learn about the Afrocuban heritage and the religion of Santería, groove to salsa, jazz and rumba, relish the best Cuban and international cuisine, witness amazing architecture dating back 500 years, and much more.
A glimpse into Cuba's renowned education system, dynamic island culture, evolving social and political realities, natural environment, and healthcare and legal systems.
Be part of the authentic daily life of Cubans mornings, afternoons and evenings.
Experience island history, social and ecological achievements first hand.
Glean insights into dynamic citizen engagement in all aspects of urban development and social policy.
Establish enduring personal and professional relationships with your Cuban counterparts and North American tourmates.
You're in good hands while on the island with Cuba Education Tours
Cuba Education and Explorer Tours guide.
SAFE, FUN, people-to-people cultural travel. Your tour is fully escorted by Cuban experts. From the minute you land in Havana until you go home, you will be in the conscientious care of our fulltime multilingual guide together with a professional bus chauffeur. They're there for you and eager to assist in everyway.
Official Cuban Travel Health Insurance required for foreign guests.
MANDATORY Cuban medical insurance is included in tour cost. This excellent policy covers all health issues that may arise while in Cuba. If you get hurt or take ill, you are not dinged with out-of-pocket expenses.
Legal Cuba Travel for Americans.
WE ENSURE Americans travel to Cuba legally. Find out how you can go to Cuba now. We've sent thousand of Americans to Cuba since 1997; not one has experienced complications. We assist free of charge with all licensing issues so you can go to Cuba legally without fear or concern.
Apple indicates Cuba tour meals included at your hotel and at fine restaurants
 Tour day
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2
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4
5
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Breakfast
In Air
Lunch
In Air
In Air
Dinner
 
 
 
 
In Air
Get to know Cuba in comfort and safety
Cuba Education and Explorers Tours bus.
YOU DO CUBA in a modern air-conditioned tour coach with a fulltime professional chauffeur from arrival to departure. Havana is one of the oldest and most architecturally stunning cities in the New World. During your many excursions around the capital, and beyond, your guide provides ongoing historical commentary for all points of interest. We want you to learn everything about our beautiful island.

Several site highlights are Modern Havana, the Capitol building, the Grand Theatre, Central Park, Prado promenade, Plaza de la Revolución, Coppelia Ice Cream Park, Plaza José Martí (in front of U.S. Interests Section), Malecón seawall, Monument to the Battleship Maine, Hotel Nacional, University of Havana, Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón, and the Miramar, Central Havana and Vedado neighborhoods.
Your Cuba tour map
Map of Cuba.
Day 1 in Cuba Saturday :: Hello Cuba
Cuban girls perform folk dance.
Cuban girls perform folk dance.

Sunset on the Malecón seawall.
Sunset on the Malecón seawall near your hotel – a place for relaxation and new friendships.

One-in-ten cars in Cuba are pre-1959.
One-in-ten cars in Cuba are pre-1959. Click photo to enlarge.
The city of Havana as seen from the fortress El Morro, across the harbor
The city of Havana as seen from the El Morro castle and San Carlos de la Cabaña fortress, across the harbor from your hotel.		 Mojito
Learn to say: Un mojito por favor!
Arrival at Havana's José Martí International Airport.
Collect your bags and go through customs. You're welcomed at the airport lobby by your Cuba Education Tours guide and professional bus chauffeur.
Private group transfer to your hotel located in the heart of Havana's cultural district.
Hotel check-in with assistance from your guide.
This is a good time to exchange some money into Cuban Convertible Pesos.
Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink with tourmates, hotel staff and your guide.
Free time to settle in to your hotel room and freshen up.
Dinner at your hotel is included in tour cost
Highlight  This evening you'll enjoy a group welcome dinner with your guide and tourmates.
Evening activities are optional and not included in tour cost
Your guide will keep you posted on entertainment options around the city.
Day 2 in Cuba Sunday :: Old Havana arts, architecture and history
Sculpture in front of the Museum of Fine Arts in Havana.
Modernist sculpture by noted Cuban artist Rita Longa stands outside the entrance to Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Maqueta de La Habana Vieja
Incredible detail hallmarks the Maqueta de La Habana Vieja. It's a great way to get a sense of the city.

Cuban post box
Decorative mail drop box in Old Havana.		 El Capitolio dome
Inside view of the dome of El Capitolio.

Exterior of the Cathedral of Havana Interior of the Cathedral of Havana.
Exterior and interior of the Cathedral of Havana initiated by Jesuits in 1748 and completed in 1777. Click photos for larger view.

Old building in Havana
Example of restoration in Old Havana.		 Cuban mime
Street pantomime in Old Havana.

La Divina Pastora Restaurante.
Restaurante La Divina Pastora, located in the Parque Histórico Morro y Cabaña overlooks Havana harbor with an incredible view of the city.

Cuban soldier guards Carlos de la Cabaña fortress. Turret at Carlos de la Cabaña fortress.
Left Contemporary Cuban soldier in 18th century British military attire guards the Carlos de la Cabaña fortress (click his photo to enlarge). Right Cabaña turret.

Ancient map of Havana.
British map from 1763 shows plan of the original walled city of La Habana (founded in 1519). The city was occupied by British and Canadian colonial troops from 1762 to 1763. Spain ended the dispute by trading Florida for Havana. Click here for another British occupation map. Try to identify it on this interactive Google Map of Cuba.

Cuban soldiers fire the 9PM cannon.
Soldiers fire the 9PM Cannon at the fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña, the best-preserved Spanish colonial garrison in the world.

Lord Byng faculty Richard Harris and 2009 LB Cuba tour student.
Why is this image of John Lennon here? Click it to find out.
Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Mural at the entrance of Museo Bellas Artes.
Striking 15 meter (49 foot) mosaic tile mural at the entrance of Museo Bellas Artes.
Victor Manuel's Gitana Tropical Island artist Víctor Manuel's Gitana Tropical, known as the Cuban Mona Lisa, was painted in Paris in 1929.
Private guided tour of the Palacio de Bellas Artes [Palace of Fine Arts] dedicated exclusively to housing Cuban art spanning three centuries. Sections are devoted to landscape, religious subjects and narrative scenes of Cuban life. A gallery devoted to the 1970s displays the latest generation of Cuban artists whose works reflect the strong symbolic imagery prevalent in recent decades. Together the exhibits account for the richness of the island's Spanish, French, Chinese, African and Aboriginal cultural roots. Notable works include those of René Portocarrero and Wilfredo Lam.
Followed by a visit to the Maqueta de La Habana Vieja [Scale Model of Old Havana] to learn about this community and its development plans. It's a 1:500 scale model of Old Havana complete with an authentic soundtrack meant to replicate a day in the life of the city. It's incredibly detailed and provides an excellent way of geographically acquainting yourself with the city's original core.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost

Group welcome lunch at Restaurante El Templete. This bayside fish joint is the latest addition to the city's list of upscale eateries. Basque chef Arkaitx Etxarte does delightful things with seafood. It sits near its namesake temple that marks the spot where the city of La Habana was founded in 1519. Overlooking the harbor, it features two dining spaces: an outdoor alfresco area accommodated under a large awning, and a pleasant indoor dining room with starched tablecloths, fine wine glasses and cutlery. The quality of the food lives up to its upscale decor. Seafood specialties are spearheaded by shrimps and lobster. Many tour participants return to this eatery during their free time.
Afterwards we'll take a walking tour of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll visit four of the five historic plazas that make Havana unique in the western hemisphere. These plazas contain the largest collection of Spanish colonial-era architecture in the Americas. This is a private tour led by your Cuba Education Tours guide. You'll witness:
Havana's Cathedral Square.

Cathedral Square, the most beautiful and private 18th century colonial plaza on the island. Named after the masterpiece of Cuban baroque architecture: the Catedral de San Cristóbal de la Habana built by the Jesuit order.
Ernest Hemingway.
Ernest Hemingway called Havana the Paris of the Americas.
Square of Arms in Havana

Square of Arms, an ancient military parade ground for Spanish soldiers, surrounded by such impressive buildings as:

Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, former seat of colonial government. Today the building houses the Museum of the City.

Palacio del Segundo Cabo [Palace of the Second Lieutenant] dates from 1770. Today it houses the Instituto Cubano del Libro [Cuban Book Institute] and the Galería Raúl Martínez (famed poster artist).

Museo de Artesanía at Castillo de la Real Fuerza, the oldest remaining fortress built by the Spaniards in the West Indies.
Plaza San Francisco in Old Havana.

We will continue onto San Francisco Square, one of the oldest plazas in the historical quarter. The square is named after the magnificent Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco de Asís dating from the 16th century. The basilica is a striking example of Cuba baroque architecture.
Plaza Vieja in Old Havana.

And, finally we'll visit Plaza Vieja, the only civic square of colonial times. In contrast to the churches and government buildings of the previous squares, Plaza Vieja is surrounded by opulent aristocratic 17th century residences. Here we'll tour an important center for the visual arts.
Return to your hotel and freshen up.
Dinner tonight is included in tour cost
Now for a special group dinner at Restaurante La Divina Pastora. This seafood palace sets just behind the big cannons below Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña where Che Guevara established his headquarters after the Revolution came to power in 1959 – four hundred years after it was built on the backs of African slaves and endentured European laborers. La Divina is noted for its cocktails, good service and live music. You'll eat near the water on the north side of Havana Harbor overlooking Old Havana to the south.
ESPECIAL! Evening activity included in tour cost
Tour highlight  We will behold a most dramatic ceremony – El Cañonazo – the Firing of the 9PM Cannon at the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña. This enchanting colonial reenactment dates back to 1519 when the city of Havana was enclosed by a tall thick rock wall to ward off attacks from pirates and the English. The cannon firing signaled the closing of the city gates for the night. If you were outside at the time, you were in "vedado" or the forbidden zone. Today Vedado is an important cultural hub and beautiful section of modern Havana.
Day 3 in Cuba Monday :: The natural splendor of rural Cuba
Mogote in Pinar del Rio
Consider climbing to the top of a mogote!		 Cuban Gundlach's hawk
Gundlach's hawk is endemic to Cuba.

Baby sea turtle in Cuba
Baby sea turtle. Cuba protects its coastlines from exploitation of marine life.

CUBA IS recognized as the global leader in environmental sustainability. It has 300 ecologically protected areas encompassing 30 percent of its territory. Six of these areas are UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. Over half the island's diverse flora and fauna is indigenous – existing nowhere else – and is guarded from exploitation. In 2006, the World Wildlife Federation named Cuba the only nation to achieve a sustainable planet friendly economy.

Downtown Vinales
Downtown Viñales. The village is an historic 19th century agricultural settlement. Colonnaded red-tiled houses in the neo-colonial style flank its main street. The valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Restaurante El Palenque de los Cimarrones slave dance.
Restaurante El Palenque de los Cimarrones slave dance.

Cuban farm boy
Many rural youth are engaged in agriculture and rigorous academics.

Cuban tobacco worker in drying shed.
We'll learn about the cultivation and processing of tobacco from seed to leaf culminating in the world's most famous cigars.		 Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Viñales Valley in Pinar del Río province.
Panorama of the majestic Viñales Valley in Pinar del Río province.
Cuban airlines
Excursion to Viñales village, a picturesque town in the heart of Cuba's prime tobacco-growing region. The town itself sits in the center of a flat valley surrounded by stunning karst hill formations known locally as mogotes. Mogotes are irregularly shaped steep-sided hills that can rise as high as 300m (985 ft) and have bases ranging from just a few hundred yards in diameter to as much as a couple of kilometers in length. The mogotes comprise part of the Sierra de los Organos mountain chain, and were formed by eons of erosion. Many consider this the most beautiful nature spot in Cuba.
Inside the Cueva del Indio Pinar del Río. A river runs through the Cueva del Indio.
We will take a magical walking and boat tour through the Cueva del Indio used by Guanahatabey Amerindians as a burial site, and later as a refuge from Spanish slavers. Within you'll witness earth's natural and social history from the Jurassic to the Paleolithic era and beyond.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
Restaurante El Palenque de los Cimarrones. El Palenque de los Cimarrones is located in the mouth of a cave at the base of a mogote.
Lunch at Restaurante El Palenque de los Cimarrones. It is located in the mouth of a cave at the base of a mogote. A palenque was a place of refuge for escaped slaves. We access the eatery on a path that takes us through another narrow cave. At the end of the path we will be met by a re-creation of a nomadic home used by runaway slaves who hid and lived here. We'll enjoy a brief Afrocuban music and dance performance typical of the slave era. Now at the restaurant, we'll dine on slow-roasted entrées and side dishes reflecting the food of the cimarron [runaway slave]. In the evenings, the restaurant doubles as a popular disco.
Four kilometers from Viñales village, on one side of the Dos Hermanas [Two Sisters] mogote, stands the Mural de la Prehistoria [Mural of Prehistory]. This impressive 120-meter high fresco was painted in 1961 by Cuban artist Leovigildo González, a student of the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. Depicted are the animals and other creatures that lived in the valley in prehistoric times. The mural pays tribute to the Darwinian perspective of evolution.
Cuban tobacco farmer in Viñales Valley.
You'll meet families who work tobacco farms. They produce the world's most treasured leaves.
Meet with local farmers on their small tobacco plantations. Learn first hand the complexities of growing and harvesting the best quality tobacco leaves in the world.
Free time in Viñales village to explore the open-air craft market, the Parque Martí, the Church, and other interesting sites of this charming colonial town.
Return to Havana. Check-in to your hotel and freshen up.
Dinner tonight is not included in cost
This evening you are free to explore stellar eateries. Tour participants receive a guide featuring Havana's best restaurants for every taste and budget. It includes both paladares [small private diners] and fabulous state owned locales run by acclaimed Cuban chefs.
Evening activities not included in cost
You are free to explore the sights and sounds of the city. Your guide will keep you posted on happening venues and entertainment options.
Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower Cuban flower
Some of the hundreds of orchids and flowers found in the province of Pinar del Río.
Day 4 in Cuba Tuesday :: Community service center, funereal architecture and history
Doña Flora, a 102-year-old resident of the Belén Convent. Belén Convent in Havana.
Left Doña Flora, a 103-year-old resident of the Belén Convent. Right Tower and entrance to the Convent of Our Lady of Belén.

RESTAURANTE EL ALJIBE Always filled with clued-in locals and foreign diners having the time of their lives. Barbecued chicken served in bitter orange and lemon sauce is the house dish. Your pollo is served with black beans, rice, tostones and ensalada – a resplendent all you can eat delight.

Delicious El Aljibe barbecued chicken.


Cuban boy and his grandmother.
Boy toasts his grandmother [abuela]. Cuban youth hold elders in high regard. The island is known as the Jewel of the Caribbean for its natural beauty and the unmatched warmth and kindness of its people.

Cuban farm boy
Cubans enjoy lifelong free healthcare and education combined with inexpensive housing, utilities and childcare.		 Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Restoration of Belén Convent began in 1991.
Restoration of the Convent of Our Lady of Belén began in 1991 and continues today. It serves as a public health facility for the elderly in the neighborhood and a permanent residence for 50 retirees. Eventually a section of the facility will house a small hotel.
Visit to the Convento de Nuestra Señora de Belén [Convent of Our Lady of Belén], a humanitarian health project in Old Havana. Construction on the Convent was begun in 1712. It was expanded and remodeled several times over the centuries. Finally abandoned in 1925, it fell into grave disrepair. In 1991 restoration began and continues with amazing results. Today the Office of the Historian, local Public Health authorities and the Order of the Sisters of Charity jointly manage the Belén Convent. It is home to fifty elderly people and provides physiotherapy and ophthalmological services to many more seniors in the community. Other activities include exercise classes, board games, cognitive rehabilitation, films, crafts workshops, and "love among the elderly" lectures. We'll meet with project Director Nelson Águila and tour the facility.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
Lunch at one of Havana's most popular restaurants: El Aljibe.
Sidewalk mosaic at Hotel Ambos Mundos Stone angel watches over the dead at Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón.
Now we tour Havana's spectacular Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón. This gigantic graveyard covers 56 hectares (16 city blocks) and contains over 500 major mausoleums, chapels, family vaults and galleries. The cemetery was launched in 1868, complete in 1876, and is considered one of the most lavish and historically significant in the western world.

The beauty and magnificence of this cemetery is unequaled in the hemisphere. It holds more than 800,000 graves, many of whose headstones have been embellished by major Cuban sculptors. The Afro-Cuban religious practice and rituals of Santería, common across the island, grace cemetery. It is not unusual to find colorfully dressed rag-dolls lying next to graves, placed as offerings to one or other of this religion's deities. As well, you'll learn of other fantastic graveyard legends.
Return to your hotel to freshen up.
Dinner tonight is not included in tour cost
This evening you are free to explore stellar eateries. Tour participants receive a guide featuring Havana's best restaurants for every taste and budget. It includes both paladares [small private diners] and fabulous state owned locales run by acclaimed Cuban chefs.
Evening activities are optional and not included in tour cost
Club La Zorra y El Cuervo.
Evening entertainment suggestion  Shake your booty to the best Afrojazz, Cubajazz and Sonjazz at Club La Zorra y El Cuervo [The Fox and the Raven] featuring astonishing performances by island bands and soloists. It's a popular haunt for Cubans and foreign guests (entrance fee is 10 CUC and is not included in tour cost).
Youths and fishers on the Malecón
Youths and fishers on the Malecón at sunset in front of your hotel.
Day 5 in Cuba Wednesday :: Overview of education in Cuba, arts and history
Giant mosaic of crab by José Fúster.
Giant mosaic of crab by José Fúster. Click photo to enlarge. Photo Richard Harris.

Lunch item at the home of Cuban artist José Fúster.
José Fúster's lunch dishes are as colorful as his sculptures.

Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fúster
Fantasy garden and studio of acclaimed artist José Fúster. Click photo to enlarge. Photo Richard Harris.

Old car in front of the Museum of the Revolution
Museum of the Revolution: old car not part of exhibit. One in ten autos are pre-1959!		 Ceiling of the Museum of the Revolution, former presidential palace.
Museum of the Revolution ceiling. Click to enlarge.


Cuban orchid
Exotic and unique plants and animals thrive in Cuba. The island has more protected areas than any other country.		 Cuban farm girl
Young person staffs farmers market.

Life size metal sculptures of elephants in Havana's Plaza Vieja.
Life size metal sculptures of elephants in Havana's Plaza Vieja by island artist Fonseca. Cuba's capital is an effervescent creative art space – a visceral feast for art lovers worldwide.

Logo of United Nations Development Program (UNDP). See how Cuba ranks amongst its neighbors on the United Nations Human Development Index.
Waves against the Malecón
The warm blue waters of the Caribbean crash up against the Malecón seawall in Havana.
Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Dr Marta Núñez Sarmiento. Noted sociologist Dr. Marta Núñez Sarmiento will provide an overview of the Cuban healthcare system.
Program highlight  This morning we'll participate in a roundtable discussion led by University of Havana professor, sociologist and feminist author Dr. Marta Núñez Sarmiento. Ms Núñez holds a Master's in Sociology from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Santiago de Chile, a PhD in Economics from the Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia, and has served as a visiting professor at universities in the Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Canada, Spain and Argentina. Núñez is an engaging presenter who will explore with you many fascinating and unique aspects of Cuban society including family rights, property laws and gender issues.

Theme: An Overview of the Cuban Healthcare System. Venue: Your hotel.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
José Rodríguez Fúster
José Rodríguez Fúster.
Tour highlight  We'll feast on a delicious lunch hosted by José Fúster, one of Cuba's most important ceramists and painters, at his whimsical studio in Jaimanitas, just outside of Havana. Fúster is known as the Picasso of the Caribbean and his art is acclaimed internationally. His artistic mission has been the rehabilitation and decoration of the village of Jaimanitas where he lives. Fúster has decorated over 80 houses with ornate murals and domes to suit the personality of his neighbors. Nowadays, Fúster's art is a cherished part of Cuban culture and joins the rank of other public artworks such as that of Gaudi in Barcelona or that of Brancusi in the Romanian city of Targu Jiu. He supports his community project through the sale of his paintings and ceramics.
Followed by a visit to the vast Museum of Revolution, occupying the former Presidential Palace. Today it exhibits the history of the Cuban Revolution through documents and objects among which we find the famous Yacht Granma that returned Fidel and his 82 guerilla fighters from México to Cuba to launch the struggle for liberation from the Batista dictatorship.
Return to your hotel to freshen up.
Dinner tonight is included in tour cost
This evening you are free to explore stellar eateries. Tour participants receive a guide featuring Havana's best restaurants for every taste and budget. It includes both paladares [small private diners] and fabulous state owned locales run by acclaimed Cuban chefs.
Evening activities are optional and not included in tour cost
2011 Havana Jazz Fesitival logo.
Havana cabaret dancer.
Evening entertainment suggestion  Attend a special dinner and dance show. Eat at the outdoor barbecue Restaurante La Barraca on the paradise-like grounds of the Hotel Nacional de Cuba atop a bluff overlooking the city and the Caribbean. Afterwards enjoy a musical review at the Cabaret Parisién and relish this colorful dance extravaganza. Dinner is 12 CUC, floor show is 35 CUC. (Not included in tour cost.)
Old car in Havana.
One-in-ten autos in Havana are pre-1959. Many are in top-notch condition. Some are for hire.
Day 6 in Cuba Thursday :: Urban agriculture and Hemingway house
El Torreón de Cojímar
El Torreón de Cojímar, a fortress built in 1645, protected the bay from pirates.

Youth at play in Cojímar
Youth at play in Cojímar.

Monument to Hemingway in Cojímar
Monument to Hemingway in Cojímar. Village fishers cast this metal bust center above from old anchors, props and tools. They had no money for new materials. Inscription reads, "In loving memory of the people of Cojímar to the immortal author of Old Man and the Sea." A plaque below the bust reads: Sculpted with the contributions of the Fishermen Cooperative of Cojímar.

Merchant at Mercado de Cuatro Caminos
Merchant at a farmers market offers organic pineapple and papaya.

Youth at a Cuban baseball game.Youth at a Cuban baseball game, the island's national sport and pastime. Click photo to enlarge.
Cuban high school students in Havana
Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation  In preparation for this afternoon's activity, watch this riveting British Broadcasting Corporation feature from Around the World in 80 Gardens on urban organic farms in Havana including a walk-through of Vivero Organopónico Alamar by fab host Monty Don.



We'll visit the UBPC Vivero Organopónico Alamar, 15 km (9.3 miles) east of Havana. It's one of the most successful urban organic farms in Cuba raising ornamental plants, medicinal herbs, and millions of seedlings for neighboring residential and collective farms. Established in the early 1990s by a dozen people, the Alamar cooperative now has over 400 members and provides a range of healthy, organic vegetables to nearby communities.

Cuban "eggplant," ha ha ha! Eggshells are affixed to tips of medicinal aloe vera plants to thwart bird attack.
Produce is raised employing the practice of permaculture. No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used. Instead, natural biological methods are used to nourish the soil, frustrate pests and conserve water. The result is an increased rate of yield and reduced costs.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
La Terraza restaurant and bar in Cojímar.

We'll have lunch at Hemingway's favorite bar and diner La Terraza. Our suggestion is a glass of ice cold "Cristal" cerveza, or lemonade, and camarones al ajillo [garlic shrimp] fried in olive oil, and seasoned with garlic and parsley – delicious! The young boy in the novel "Old Man and the Sea," Manolin, was based on the young son of the original owner of La Terraza, Manolito.
Next we'll visit Cojímar, a small costal fishing village northeast of Havana where Ernest Hemingway kept his boat during the decades he lived in Cuba. Cojímar was the inspiration for Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.
War reporter, activist, man of letters, journalist and titan author Ernest Hemingway. War reporter, activist, man of letters, journalist and literary titan Ernest Hemingway.
This morning we're off to visit Finca Vigía [Lookout Farm] where North America's literary giant Ernest Hemingway spent twenty-one of his most important and productive years penning the building blocks of English literature. Claimed by both the United States and Cuba as their son, it was Hemingway himself who declared the island his true home. The house has been preserved just as it was when Hemingway lived there. You'll see his personal objects, thousands of books and photographs, as well as some "trophies" bagged on his frequent safaris.
Return to your hotel and freshen up.
Dinner tonight is not included in tour cost
This evening you are free to explore stellar eateries. Tour participants receive a guide featuring Havana's best restaurants for every taste and budget. It includes both paladares [small private diners] and fabulous state owned locales run by acclaimed Cuban chefs.
Evening activities are optional and not included in tour cost
You are free to explore the sights and sounds of the city. Your guide will keep you posted on happening venues and entertainment options.
Day 6 in Cuba Thursday :: Afrocubanismo
Casa de Africa entrance sign.
Entrance sign to the Casa de África.

Casa de Africa courtyard.
House of Africa museum courtyard.

Women perform Afrocuban dance.
The House of Africa supports traditional and contemporary music and dance.

Yemaya, African goddess of the sea Regla's church honors a black goddess who protects fishers and sailors.

Yoruban "Virgen de Regla" Yemayá
Yoruban "Virgen de Regla" Yemayá is paraded across the community on the Day of All Saints.

Cuban women's accomplishments by the numbers.
Click to graphic to learn more.		 Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
Casa de Africa logo.
Morning visit to the Casa de África. Established in 1986, this museum and cultural center is located in an old tobacco warehouse in Habana Vieja. It focuses on the continent of Africa and Cuba's African heritage, reflecting in a simple, but deep way, history, religion, art, wisdom, and emancipation battles. The Casa de África is devoted to research and the promotion of African culture and how it has shaped and defined Cuban culture. The Casa conducts workshops for youth, hosts theoretical events, special exhibits, and music and dance performances. Cuba claims both Africa and Europe as its mother continents. The museum reflects the traditions, customs and celebrations comprising the ancestral wealth of Africa for the enjoyment and knowledge of new generations.

Fernando Ortíz
Fernando Ortíz, master Cuban ethnographer.
Gallery collections include initiation and fecundity masks, large carved wooden sculptures, wardrobes, musical instruments, and paintings. It also holds a vast library for use by academicians, researchers and university students interested in acquiring knowledge of the African culture. Among the most significant objects is the library of Fernando Ortíz, master Cuban ethnographer.
Lunch this afternoon is included in tour cost
Restaurante La Paella serves Spanish style seafood and meat paellas.
Group farewell lunch  Restaurante La Paella located in Hostal Valencia is the premiere paella place in Havana. Paella comes in a variety flavors and are well prepared and presented. The eatery has won high praise for its Valencian dishes and several international prizes. Other options include grilled Caribbean seafood, Yoruba lobster with béchamel sauce, and buttered shrimp. The atmosphere is warm and lively. The decor is heavy traditional Spanish furnishings surrounding by colorful ceramic accents.
Next we'll cross Havana harbor to the Municipality of Regla. This Afrocuban community has a long, rich and still active tradition of African-inspired religions.
We'll visit Regla's church dedicated to the black "Virgen de Regla" Yemayá, the African goddess of the sea in the Yoruba religion and the patron saint of sailors.
We'll tour the Museo Municipal de Regla and learn of the origins of this unique community and its Afrocuban cultures.
Return to your hotel to freshen up.
Dinner tonight is included in tour cost
Special farewell dinner  Set within a beautiful colonial mansion, El Santo Ángel Restaurant enjoys the magical atmosphere of Plaza Vieja. Its stately inner courtyard is lined with plants to which many birds flock. Its menu features nueva Cubana cuisine and superb international dishes. There is always fabulous live music to accompany your meal.
Optional evening activities are not included in cost
Evening entertainment  Depending upon event and performance schedules you could attend a performance of the Buena Vista Social Club. Your guide will keep you posted on different events happening in the city.
Cuban bananas Cuban coffee beans Cuban cucumbers Cuban pineapple Cuban sweet potatoes Cuban eggplant Cuban advocados
Many staples are grown organically in Cuba: Bananas, coffee, cucumbers, pineapple, sweet potatoes, eggplant, and avocados.
Day 8 in Cuba Saturday :: Goodbye Cuba
KEEP IN TOUCH with your new Cuban friends – exchange email addresses! Bring some business cards to pass out on the island. Take pictures and keep a journal. Upon your return, we'll post them on this website for all to see and enjoy.

Goodbye Cuba girl.
We'll miss you and hope you return soon! In Cuba we say: A true friend remembers the song in your heart when you have forgotten the lyrics.

Old car in Havana.
Breakfast at your hotel is included in tour cost
United colors of Cuba.
United Colors of Cuba.
Check-out of your hotel.
Transfer to Havana's José Martí International Airport for your return home.
Don't forget to save 25.00 CUC for your Cuban airport departure fee and some money for meals on the airplane and while in transit
Want to stay longer in Cuba following your tour? Contact us and we will help make it happen at a price you can afford.
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